Storm Weather Severe National Volunteers People Eslpod Skywarn

Almost 290,000 "volunteers" (people who work without receiving payment) serve as severe storm "spotters" (someone who sees something that is difficult to see). They provide reports of what they see to the "National Weather Service," which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The program, called SKYWARN, began in the 1970s.

The volunteers must complete a free, two-hour "training" (education) that "covers" (studies particular topics) storm "formation" (creation), storm "structure" (the arrangement of parts, including shape and size), "features" (characteristics) of severe weather, how to report storm information, and basic safety information. Anyone can be a volunteer, but many of the volunteers are "first responders" (firefighters, police officers, and others who respond to emergencies), people "affiliated with" (connected to) hospitals and schools, "utility" (a company that provides electricity, gas, and/or water service) representatives, or others who are responsible for protecting members of the community.

The National Weather Service receives and "compiles" (puts together) reports from the volunteer storm spotters. Then it combines that information with "satellite data" (information received from machines that orbit (go around) the Earth) and other weather information. This allows them to make more "accurate" (precise; correct) "predictions" (statements of what will happen in the future) of storm formation, activity, and "severity" (a measure of how strong something is).

The National Weather Service refers to the SKYWARN volunteers as the nation's "first line of defense" (primary way of taking care of people and preventing injury, death, and property damage) against severe weather, because the information they provide can be used to "warn" (tell someone that something bad is going to happen) people about severe weather earlier, which can help to save lives.